Tag Archives: Flores

The New York Mets will send fifth-starter candidate John Lannan to the mound today against Houston at Kissimmee, Fla. The left-hander is coming off a scoreless, two-inning performance in his first start.

* One of the position battles to watch out for is between Wilmer Flores and Anthony Seratelli for a back-up infielder role. Scratching my head as to why, despite two games being played, Flores didn’t see any time at shortstop.

The best news of an otherwise dismal day for the New York Mets is that Jenrry Mejia said he is pain free.

Mejia gave up one run in two innings in a game where the Mets were routed, 11-5, by the Washington Nationals at Viera, Fla. The Mets also lost their Port St. Lucie game, 5-2 in 10 innings, to the Miami Marlins.

Mejia, in competition for the fifth-starter job, but with the possibility of working out of the bullpen, gave up an unearned run on one hit, two walks and three strikeouts in two innings.

Not in the box score was how his surgically-repaired elbow felt.

“That’s the most important thing – I feel better, I feel good right now,’’ Mejia told ESPN.com. “Everything is fine.’’

In addition:

* Things weren’t fine for reliever Cory Mazzoni, who was rocked for seven runs in one inning by the Nationals. Things might have been better for him had Wilmer Flores not missed a tag at second base on a throw from the outfield. The play might have opened the door, but Mazzoni still must find a way to get the outs needed.

* Also having a rough time was reliever Gonzalez Germen, who gave up three runs over 32 pitches in the loss to Miami.

* I don’t know why, but it appears the experiment with Flores at shortstop is over. Terry Collins wanted to get a look at him at shortstop, but with Ruben Tejada ailing and two games to choose from, Flores played second base. Makes no sense to me, unless the experiment is over, which is a bad call this early.

* Neither Tejada nor Ike Davis is expected to play tomorrow. Friday at the earliest.

The New York Mets scratched Ike Davis from today’s lineup with tightness in his calf. Ruben Tejada, who was pulled from Saturday’s game with a tight left hamstring, is still sitting, but could return tomorrow.

LINEUP COMMENTS: We know Quintanilla can play shortstop, but we don’t know about Flores. With Tejada still out I would have started Flores at shortstop, that is, of course, unless manager Terry Collins has already bailed on that plan. … Chris Young has started recently I the leadoff position. I don’t like him there even if Eric Young doesn’t play. Too many strikeouts.

One of the bright spots for the New York Mets this spring is pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard, who is coming off a two-inning, five-strikeout performance in last Thursday’s intrasquad game.

Today, he’ll face Atlanta at the Disney complex near Orlando.

“I kind of shocked myself a little bit,’’ Syndergaard said of his intrasquad outing. “I wasn’t expecting that my first time out there.’’

Syndergaard, who stands an imposing 6-foot-5, throws a nasty curveball and 97 mph., fastball. That’s a good beginning, but to become an effective major league starter, he’ll need a third pitch.

“I’m excited, a little nervous at the same time,’’ Syndergaard said of today’s exhibition start. “It’s the first time facing a real big-league lineup. I’m going to go out there and do what I can. It’s still a game. They’re still playing baseball out there.’’

The Mets don’t anticipate bringing up Syndergaard until mid-June, instead, going with Daisuke Matsuzaka or John Lannan, as the fifth-starter candidate to open the season.

At the start of spring training, Jenrry Mejia was also listed as a fifth-starter possibility, but there appears a growing sentiment that won’t happen and he could end up in the bullpen or minor leagues. Mejia is recovering from elbow surgery.

LINE-UP COMMENTS: Interesting to see Chris Young leading off. It’s because Eric Young is out, but Collins must also keep an eye on him in case Eric Young opens the season on the bench. … No surprise to see both Davis and Duda playing as they each need as many at-bats as possible.